According to the American Heartworm Society, once mature, heartworms can live for 5 to 7 years in dogs and up to 2 or 3 years in cats. Because of the longevity of these worms, each mosquito season can lead to an increasing number of worms in an infected pet.1
It’s important to remember that is a heartworm’s life cycle and does not mean your pet will be heartworm free after that period of time. Heartworms will reproduce and the cycle will begin anew. Preventive care is crucial to pet health, especially for cats who have no approved method of treatment once infected. Why wait for the bite? For more information about the hidden dangers in the bugs that bite your pet, check out the Why Wait For The Bite campaign on Goodnewsforpets.
Pet parents should learn heartworm basics, and this April Goodnewsforpets is spotlighting key information, here. It’s important to also speak with your veterinarian.
To learn more about American Heartworm Society, visit their site.
1 https://www.heartwormsociety.org/pet-owner-resources/heartworm-basics
